Iraqis head to vote in 1st parliamentary election since defeating IS

BAGHDAD - Millions of Iraqis headed Saturday to polling stations across the country to elect the next parliament, for the first time after defeating the Islamic State group.

The polls kicked off at 7:00 am local time as voters lined up to cast their ballots.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the election as an important achievement of the Iraqi people after defeating the IS terrorists and unifying the country.

"This election is decisive for Iraq's future, so the voters should actively participate in the voting," Abadi told state TV Al Iraqiya after casting his ballot at Karrada polling center in the capital Baghdad.

Iraq's President Fuad Masum, a Kurd, cast his vote at a polling center inside the Royal Tulip Alrasheed hotel in the heavily fortified Green Zone, Baghdad.

He said there exists a channel of dialogue between the central government and the Kurdistan region, when asked about post-election ties between the two sides which were strained after the independent referendum by the Kurds in the northern Kurdistan region last September.

Iraq's Vice President Nuri al-Maliki, head of State of Law Coalition, was the first top official to cast his vote at the same polling center. "This is an important day in Iraq's history," Maliki told reporters.

"Election is the only way to give democracy a success, and I call on all the people to choose whoever they believe as proper person to be their representative," Maliki said.